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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

A temporary little market, mostly farm wagons with a few travelling merchants, is set up in a meadow. Off in the distance, up a high hill, the towers of Windborne manor loom. Farm folk, their skins chapped like leather by long exposure to the wind and sun, haggle energetically over produce and trinkets.

April draws herself up at the edge of the meadow and dusts herself off, ineffectually. She looks over her battered appearance and torn clothes, and sighs. "Ah well," she says. "At least I come across as someone in need."

She heads for the nearest stall, trying not to look threatening. "That's ... mighty fine looking corn there, ma'am," April says awkwardly.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:51 am Post subject:

"Thanks! It's affordable too as you can see that there. Are you well, dear? You look a little... pale."
The middle-aged redhead smiles at April a bit awkwardly. She leans a bit forward to take a closer look at April.
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

April smiles, but restrains a laugh. "I've travelled ... a long way. I'm fine, though. Kind of you to ask." She fishes in one of her shallow pockets and pulls out a gold coin, rubbed non-descript and slightly bent by long use. "How much can I get with this?" she asks, her eyes wide with innocence.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject:

"Quite a bit I'd say! A feast if I've seen any!" she answers. "I don't reckon you need it all in corn, now do ya?" she smiles at April.

Other merchants have noticed the gold coin and are looking in their direction with curiosity while going about their regular affairs.
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

April laughs. "No, well, not all for me," she says quickly. "I'm travelling with friends, and ... well, I'm the one in good enough shape that they've sent me out to stock us back up. Travel is hard these past years, I'm sure you're aware."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:23 am Post subject:

"Yes, we have, Miss. What happened to you all?" she asks as she begins bundling a dozen husks of corn, asking with a questioning look if it's enough.
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

"Set upon," April responds, "By men looked as much dead as alive. Nothing we wanted to tangle with, but going off course cost us some nasty climbing."

April looks at the corn and mentally weighs the logistics. "Anyone around here with a wheelbarrow I could rent or purchase?" she asks.

....

"Can't help but notice the birds flocking to that tower," she says. "Seems a mighty ill omen, though I'd not leap to speak ill of any of the high-born."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:43 pm Post subject:

TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

"Well," April says, "I'd certainly appreciate any help you could offer me."

"You all seem like solid, steady people," she says with a smile. "Can't tell you how many places I've been that would have been all in a dither about something new and ominous circling around. Work themselves half to death just worrying about whether they should worry at all."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject:

She turns to look at the circling birdmen again and turning back to April, "It's hard sometimes," she admits with a crooked smile. "But you seem to know about that too..."
She hesitates for a second and says, "Look, if you and your friends are in a rough patch and need shelter or something, just come down. We don't have a healer anymore but we can make do."
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

April smiles, but with a touch of discomfort. "Yeah," she says, "that's very kind of you, but the folks I'm with have gotten a little ... skittish. I'll see if I can persuade them to come on down and make friends, but for the moment I think we'll stick to taking care of our own ... I hope you don't take that the wrong way. No reflection on you, I assure you."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:44 am Post subject:

"Oh, that's quite alright, dear. You do what you have to do to keep your kin going. I know that all too well... I mean, things were plenty peaceful when the Baron was still in charge. We didn't see those big birds flying around weirdly, but I've always remembered the folks here having to fight off the odd group of fair folks or creature out of the woods... If anything, things are weird because they haven't been seen in a while."
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

April frowns. "You mean, like fairies and such going around accepting plates of milk and granting little wishes and mending shoes? If the folk were so fair, why did your Baron have to fight them off so much?" she asks.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:42 am Post subject:

The lady laughs quietly and says, "I suppose calling them fair really isn't, at least not in that sense of the word... They are not fairies, no. A race of folks of uncommon beauty, sometimes unwilling to let travelers pass, sometimes just looking for trouble. I've never seen any but heard plenty of the tales, Miss. They were not so rare just a few years ago, just lately..."
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 494

"Ahhhh," April says with dawning realization. "Pretty-petty-evil. Yeah, I know that type. Wonder where they went ...."